Admission & Readmission

General Information

East Carolina University is an equal educational opportunity institution; and, in keeping with this policy, the university makes no distinction in the admission of students, or in any other of its activities, on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, creed, disability, age, or national origin.

All students who are seeking college credit, whether or not they are working toward a degree, must gain admission to the university. Unless otherwise specified, undergraduate students are admitted to the university by the director of admissions. The completed application, with required evidence of eligibility, should be submitted to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions by the posted application deadline. Applicants should contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to determine deadline dates for each academic term. Visit www.ecu.edu/admissions.

• Admission to the university does not guarantee admission to individual programs. Individual program admission requirements are described in the specific academic sections.
• Post-baccalaureate students seeking a second undergraduate degree should apply to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
• Post-baccalaureate students seeking teacher licensure should apply to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
• Post-baccalaureate students seeking a graduate degree or nondegree credit only should apply to the Graduate School. This includes students with four year degrees who want to take undergraduate courses as prerequisites to graduate admission application.

The university seeks to admit undergraduate students who show evidence of being able to succeed in and benefit from academic programs of the rigor offered. The admission decision is based on those criteria indicative of performance and potential as listed below. The chancellor or his designee may admit students whose special talents indicate success in programs requiring those talents. In addition to the above, the Board of Trustees has authorized the Admissions and Retention Policies Committee, at its discretion, to require a personal interview and/or any test deemed advisable.

Although a satisfactory health certificate is not required for university admission, it is required for on-campus enrollment.

Applicants who have registered in other colleges, universities, or technical institutes (whether or not they earned credit or wish to transfer credit) are required to submit official transcripts of all previous college attendance to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions prior to admission.

All official records must be forwarded from the institution previously attended and must be on file in the admissions office before a student can be admitted. Falsification of the application or any academic records will result in dismissal from East Carolina University.

Transcripts will be evaluated on the basis of East Carolina University requirements, not those of any institutions previously attended. If a transfer student meets all admission requirements, full credit will be awarded for all transfer courses passed with a grade of C (2.0) or better and for which East Carolina University has equivalent courses. To have a transcript evaluated, the student must have on file in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions an application for undergraduate admission, the $70 application fee, and an official transcript from each school previously attended.

Any record submitted for evaluation may be totally or partially disallowed according to East Carolina University policies and regional accrediting association regulations. East Carolina University routinely accepts credit from institutions accredited by regional accrediting associations. Validating examinations may be required in any or all subjects and will be required for work completed at institutions not accredited by regional associations, if the student wishes to establish such credit. All transfer students must earn a minimum of one-half the hours of credit required for graduation through enrollment in a regionally accredited senior college; a minimum of 30 semester hours and one-half of the hours in the major must be completed through enrollment at ECU.

In exceptional cases, students may secure the equivalent of transfer credit by passing previously arranged special examinations in subjects in which they have systematically acquired knowledge under conditions which did not permit the earning of transferable credit. Freshmen whose high school records and/or pre-entrance tests show unusual achievement and promise in a subject may take special examinations to receive college credit. (See Advanced Placement, below.) Limits on the number of semester hours of credit earned by special examination may be imposed by schools or departments. Credit earned by examination may not be used to reduce minimum residency requirements.

Grades transferred from another institution are not considered in computing the GPA at East Carolina University, except in the case of seniors graduating with degrees with distinction.

Admission Requirements

Freshmen

Admission requirements for freshmen are listed below:

1. Official certificate of graduation (or its equivalent) from an accredited secondary school and a satisfactory scholastic record.
2. Fifteen acceptable units of secondary school credit, including in English, four course units emphasizing grammar, composition, and literature; in mathematics, four course units including algebra I, algebra II, geometry and a higher level mathematics course for which algebra II is a prerequisite (fourth unit of mathematics is required of students graduating high school in 2006 and later); in science, three course units, including at least one unit in a life or biological science (for example, biology), at least one unit in a physical science (for example, physical science, chemistry, physics), and at least one other laboratory science course; in foreign language, two course units in same language (two units in foreign language are required of students graduating high school in 2004 and later); and in social studies, two course units, including one unit in US history.
   East Carolina University recommends that prospective students complete at least one course unit in the arts. Admission to the university does not guarantee admission to individual programs; individual program admission requirements are described in the specific academic sections.
3. Satisfactory scores on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (www.collegeboard.com) or American College Test (www.act.org). Registration forms for either of these examinations are available online and at individual high schools. Official scores must be sent to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, East Carolina University prior to admission.
4. A nondeductible, nonrefundable application fee of $70.

Transfer Students

General Transfer

General admission requirements for transfer students are listed below:

1. Official transcript(s) from each regionally accredited college, technical institute, or university previously attended showing the following:
   
   1. A 2.5 grade point average (GPA) on all transferable hours attempted. (Some professional schools may require a GPA which is higher than that required by the university for admission to their programs.) A minimum of 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) is required for transfer consideration which must include the equivalent college credit hours for ECU’s ENGL 1100 , ENGL 1200  and MATH 1066  (College Algebra).
   2. Honorable dismissal and eligibility to return to the college or university at which last matriculated. (Attendance only at summer school does not apply.)
   3. Students who will be 24 years old at the time they propose to enroll may submit their application for transfer admission, with 30 or more transferable hours from a regionally accredited institution are not required to provide a high school transcript or general educational development tests (GED) certificate.
2. Nondeductible, nonrefundable application fee of $70.

Admission to the university does not guarantee admission to individual programs. Individual program admission requirements are described in the specific academic sections. It is the student’s responsibility to request that all transcripts and other records be forwarded to the admissions office.

Note: Transfer students must meet the University of North Carolina subject matter admission requirements by completing high school courses as stated above, or by completing 6 degree-creditable semester hours each in English, mathematics, science, foreign language, and social sciences at a regionally-accredited institution other than East Carolina University. Those graduating from high school in 2004 and later must also have 6 hours of foreign language to satisfy the MCR requirements. (See Admission Requirements, Freshmen.) In addition, those who present fewer than 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) of transferable credits with a minimum GPA of 2.5 must have satisfactory high school grades and test scores as required for freshman candidates.

Transfer with Associate Degree

Admission of transfer students with an associate degree is based on the following criteria.

1. The applicant must have earned the associate of arts, associate of science, or associate of fine arts degree with a cumulative 2.5 transfer GPA or higher.
2. The applicant must have earned the degree from a regionally-accredited institution.
3. The applicant must have earned a minimum of 16 semester hours or 23 quarter hours at the institution conferring the degree.

Nontraditional Students

Individuals who are at least twenty-four years of age and do not qualify for admission as a freshman or transfer student may apply for admission as a nontraditional student. Applicants should complete an application, submit all academic transcripts, and explain the nature of their academic preparation. Students are reviewed holistically by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, and must demonstrate the potential for academic success at the university level. Applicants with limited or no college experience are encouraged to complete some classes at a community college to increase the competitiveness of their applications. Please note admission is not guaranteed. Admission to the university does not guarantee admission to individual programs. Please see individual program requirements for enrollment information.

Students enrolling under this policy must

1. comply with all university policies regarding payment of tuition and fees.
2. comply with NC state law concerning health and immunization.
3. meet university retention requirements.
4. follow all university academic regulations as shown in the undergraduate catalog published in the year during which the student enrolls.

International Students

East Carolina University actively seeks to attract international students into its undergraduate and graduate programs. The presence of these students, with their varied geographic and educational backgrounds, helps promote international goodwill and understanding in North Carolina, and provides an opportunity for other university students to further their knowledge and appreciation of the cultures of many lands.

The Office of International Affairs serves as a clearinghouse for the admission of international students. Academic assessments, financial evaluations, and immigration issues as well as admissions are handled through this office. Admissions requirements for international freshman and undergraduate transfer students are:

1. Graduation from a secondary school and submission of academic records and an official English translation. Transfer applicants should request a course-by-course evaluation of their university-level coursework from an evaluation agency. An official evaluation should be sent directly from the evaluation agency. Documents on which an evaluation is based should be sent as well.
2. Non-native speakers of English are required to provide an evidence of English proficiency by submitting one of the following:
   
   1. TOEFL score of minimum 550 (paper-based), or 80 (20 on each section) (Internet-based).
   2. IELTS score of 6.5 or higher
   3. 450 SAT I Critical Reading or 19 Combined English/Writing scores section of the ACT.
   4. Applicants who have completed at least 30 credit hours at a U.S. institution of higher education and received a grade of B (3.0) or better for an academic English writing/composition course will be exempt from the English proficiency requirement.
3. Completion of an Application for International Undergraduate Admission, which can be mailed, downloaded from or submitted online at www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/intlaffairs/apply.cfm.
4. Nondeductible, nonrefundable application fee of $70.

In order to have an I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student status issued, international students are also required to submit the Confidential Financial Information Form together with documents showing that they have sufficient financial resources to fund their education in the US.

International students interested in applying may do so through inquiries to the Office of International Affairs, International House, 306 East 9th Street, Mailstop 598, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858-4353, USA. International admissions information is available at www.international.ecu.edu or by email at intlprgm@ecu.edu.

The Office of International Affairs also assists ECU students from other countries with the many matters that are of particular concern to them during their stay in the United States. Inquiries may be directed to the Office of International Affairs, International Student Advisor, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858-4353.

A student from a country other than the United States may apply to the chairperson of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures for a departmental certificate of American studies for foreign students. In order to qualify for this certificate, a student must pass a minimum of 14 semester hours of graduate or undergraduate course work with a minimum grade of C (2.0). A certificate with distinction shall be awarded to a student who completes a program of 20 semester hours of which at least 14 semester hours are passed with a minimum grade of B (3.0).

Veterans and Children of Deceased and Disabled Veterans

Veterans and children of deceased and disabled veterans must meet regular admission requirements. They should make preliminary application for any educational benefits due them directly to East Carolina University or to the nearest regional Office of the Veterans Administration well in advance of the desired admission date so that the necessary details and documents may be obtained. (See Expenses & Financial Assistance  section.)

Postbaccalaureate Students Seeking a Second Baccalaureate Degree or Nondegree Credit

Students holding a baccalaureate degree and seeking only non-degree credit or seeking undergraduate coursework to satisfy prerequisites for graduate study should apply to the Office of Graduate School Admissions. Students holding a baccalaureate degree and applying for admission to pursue a second baccalaureate degree or teacher licensure should apply to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. (See freshman or transfer admission requirements, above, or www.ecu.edu/admissions.)

Nondegree Students

Individuals may be allowed to enroll in the university on a space-available basis as nondegree, auditing, or visiting students if they qualify under one of the categories listed below. Admission under these categories will be limited by the university’s enrollment projections. The students will register directly with the Office of the Registrar.

Many individuals desire to take courses for reasons such as certification, needs arising from the workplace, and self-satisfaction. Often such plans do not include working toward a baccalaureate degree or teacher licensure. Individuals who have not earned a baccalaureate degree and who desire to participate in this program should contact the Office of Admissions for additional information. Individuals who have earned a baccalaureate degree who wish to enroll as nondegree students should contact the Graduate School for a nondegree graduate application and additional instructions.

Individuals enrolled as nondegree undergraduate students can apply no more than 28 semester hours earned in this status toward an undergraduate degree upon admission to East Carolina University. However, nondegree enrollees may not use those hours to satisfy UNC minimum admission requirements for admission to East Carolina University but may transfer them to another institution.

Auditors

Auditing a course consists of attendance at classes and listening but taking no part in the class. An auditor is not responsible for any assignments, nor is he or she allowed to take any tests or examinations. However, in order to have the audited course recorded on the official transcript, a student must attend classes regularly. An auditor may not enroll in a participation course (art classes, laboratories, etc.). Under no circumstances will a grade be assigned, evaluations be made, or performance reports be issued on a student auditing a course. Auditing a course or part of a course is contingent upon the approval of the instructor and the appropriate departmental chairperson or school/college dean. Students may not register to audit a course until the last day of the drop/add period. Persons who wish to attend university classes without earning credit must be admitted to the university before seeking approval to audit any course. The applicants shall then complete the prescribed procedure for registering through the Office of the Registrar and pay the audit fee to the cashier’s office before attendance in classes is permitted.

Students regularly enrolled in the university wishing to audit course(s) must initiate the approval process with their advisor. A student may audit no more than two courses in any semester.

Visitors

Students attending another regionally accredited college or university may desire to attend East Carolina University for a limited period of time and then return to their original institutions. Such applicants must complete a visitor’s application and have the dean or other appropriate official at the parent institution verify that the applicant is in good academic standing. This official should specify the courses to be taken at East Carolina University. The student should enroll in only specified courses and then only if the required prerequisite courses or their equivalents have been completed. Enrollment as a visitor will be limited to no more than 28 semester hours earned at East Carolina University. Credit earned as a visiting student cannot be used to establish eligibility for admission to East Carolina University, but up to 28 semester hours earned at East Carolina University may be applied after the student has been admitted.

Summer Session

The university offers three schedules of summer classes for both on-campus and distance education instruction: one eleven week session, and two five-week terms. Please see the calendars in the preface of this catalog or individual program schedules for dates. (See Nondegree and Visitors, above.)

1. For those working toward a degree from East Carolina University, all of the admission requirements must be met. (See freshman or transfer admission requirements, above, or www.ecu.edu/admissions.)
2. For any visiting student, a statement must be presented from the dean or registrar of the college or university at which the student is enrolled, verifying good academic standing and recommending the courses to be taken. (See Nondegree and Visitors, above.)
3. Students holding a baccalaureate degree and seeking only nondegree credit should apply to the Graduate School.

The Graduate School

All questions concerning graduate work, including admission and transfer requirements, should be directed to the dean of the Graduate School. Also, see the graduate catalog.

Dual Undergraduate and Graduate Enrollment

Senior undergraduate students who possess at least a 3.5 GPA in their last 30 semester hours of completed ECU course work may be admitted as nondegree graduate students and enroll for 9 semester hours of graduate credit. The student must have the approval of his or her undergraduate advisor and the graduate program offering the course. The Dual Undergraduate/Graduate Enrollment Form and eligibility criteria may be accessed at www.ecu.edu/gradschool/academicpolicies.cfm.

Six-Hour Rule

ECU seniors who are within 6 s.h. or less of completion of all undergraduate degree requirements may apply for admission to graduate degree programs. If admitted prior to the semester or summer term during which 6 s.h. or less and any remaining requirements must be completed, they may enroll in 5000 - or 6000-level courses applicable to graduate degree requirements. Graduate courses taken under the “six-hour rule” do not double count toward completion of the undergraduate degree.

Advanced Placement

Applicants who present acceptable scores on advanced placement examinations of The College Board will be given credit or advanced placement in the appropriate subject matter areas. Applicants who complete an international baccalaureate may receive some college credit. Additional information on acceptable examinations and required scores is available at www.ecu.edu/admissions.

Credit may also be given for acceptable performance in the appropriate subject matter areas on both the general examination and subject examinations of the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and Defense Activity Nontraditional Education Support (DANTES). Additional information concerning required scores and acceptable tests is available in the Office of Admissions and on their Web site at www.ecu.edu/admissions.

Transfer students should submit an official copy of advanced placement and CLEP scores to the Office of Admissions with the application.

Placement Testing

Placement tests are given in mathematics, foreign language, and chemistry. However, placement tests will not be administered, nor will placement credit be awarded, in any of the three academic areas in which the student has earned any college credit. Credit earned through placement testing is awarded without grade and without quality points, and no fee is exacted for such credit. (See below.) The student should strive for a high score on placement tests because the resulting reduction in the number of credits to be earned to satisfy minimum requirements for graduation and the time made available for elective courses justify the effort. Tests are scheduled during the summer orientation program and at certain other times as determined by the department concerned. Distance education students may be required to visit the campus to take placement tests. Information pertinent to each area is included in the sections immediately following.

English

Entering freshmen who present a score of 3 on the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) Advanced Placement Examination (language and composition or literature and composition) receive 3 semester hours credit and enroll in ENGL 1200 to complete the composition requirement. Students with scores of 4 or 5 receive 6 semester hours credit and have completed the composition requirement. Honors students who do not take the CEEB Advanced Placement Examination or who present a score below 3 may enroll in honors sections of ENGL 1100. Quality points will be granted only for those students who complete ENGL 1100 and/or 1200 through regular class attendance.

Foreign Language

To determine the university level of foreign language study at which students may most profitably continue the language(s) they took in high school, a placement test should be taken by all students who have only high school credit in foreign language(s) and wish to earn college level credit at ECU. (See Placement Testing, above.)

Students exercising the option to take the foreign language placement test may enroll in a course one level lower than the placement indication without departmental approval or one level higher with permission of the chairperson of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures either during drop/add or by the fifth day of class. After successful completion of the course, students will, upon request, receive bypass credit for the course(s) sequentially preceding the one completed. This policy is to be applied to all students regardless of the date of their entry to the university.

Students who take the placement test may also receive bypass credit for language levels 1001 through 1004, but only upon satisfactory completion of validating procedures administered on this campus, as follows:

1. Upon completion of level 1002 with a passing grade, students will receive bypass credit for level 1001.
2. Upon completion of level 1003 with a passing grade, students will receive bypass credit for levels 1001 and 1002.
3. Upon completion of level 1004 with a passing grade, students will receive bypass credit for levels 1001, 1002, and 1003.
4. Upon completion of a course above level 1004 with a passing grade, students will receive credit for levels 1001, 1002, 1003, and 1004.

Entering students who plan to continue language study are strongly advised to do so as soon as possible after admission to the university. Any questions concerning placement and bypass credit should be directed to the chair of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures.

Students who do not wish to take the placement test in the language they choose to study must enroll in level 1001. Please note, however, that a placement test is required for enrollment in all lower-level Spanish courses including level 1001. Students with college bypass credit in a particular foreign language from another institution are not eligible to take the placement test in that language. Students who wish to study a different language from the one studied in high school may earn credit beginning with level 1001.

Foreign students are not eligible to take the placement test in their native language and receive bypass credit for basic elementary and intermediate level courses in that language. They are encouraged to take advanced courses in their native language; however, they should see the chairperson of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures before enrolling.

Mathematics

Students who score 540 or better on the mathematics sub-score of the SAT may be placed into MATH 1065  or MATH 1066 , all of which count toward the foundations curriculum mathematics requirement. MATH 1050 , which also counts toward the foundations curriculum mathematics requirement, does not require a minimum SAT score. Students without the minimum SAT score will be placed into MATH 1065  or higher based on their score on the mathematics placement test. A student who earns a higher score on the math SAT or has taken AP calculus in high school can be placed into a higher level course with the consent of the department.

Readmission

Regular Readmission

Any student not enrolled for one or more semesters on the main campus of the university must apply for readmission. Applications for readmission and submission deadlines are available from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at www.ecu.edu/admissions. Readmission to the university does not guarantee readmission to individual academic programs.

Transfer Readmission

Students who have been enrolled at another college or university since their last enrollment at East Carolina University must submit to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions official transcripts indicating that a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale has been earned on all transferable courses attempted. In order to ensure processing, applicants should submit readmission applications according to the deadline provided by the admissions office. Transfer credit will be evaluated in accordance with established university policy. (See Transfer Credit.)

Nontraditional Student Readmission

Nontraditional students admitted under the Nontraditional Students Admission Policy who fail either to meet the GPA requirement or to satisfy the retention stipulations may not continue enrollment at East Carolina University except under the following conditions:

1. Students may attend summer school at East Carolina University to satisfy retention stipulations.
2. Students may be readmitted under the provisions of the Readmission Under Forgiveness Policy to resume progress toward satisfying retention stipulations.
3. Students may be readmitted after completing at an accredited college or university 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of transferable work with a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on all transferable work.

Duplicate credit will not be granted under any circumstances. In all cases the stipulations specified at the time of initial admission must be satisfied.

Following Suspension

See section on academic regulations, academic eligibility standards, for policies on readmission following suspension and the Readmission Under Forgiveness Policy.